Technically, USF's campus is closed until Jan. 2. It's a ghost town. Students, faculty and staff members are home for the holidays. Accustomed to
But if you're around the Pam and Les Mums Basketball Center during that seemingly dormant time, listen closely. You're bound to hear bouncing basketballs, sneakers squeaking on the hardwood and coaches bellowing out orders.
Even at Christmas, the USF men's and women's basketball teams really don't have a true holiday.
There will be a mini-break of sorts. Following the USF women's trip to a San Diego tournament, the players will have a few days off with family until reporting back on Dec. 26. The Bulls will then prepare for the American Athletic Conference opener at Tulane on Dec. 30.
The USF men will employ a similar strategy. After a Dec. 22 home game against the New Jersey Institute of Technology (NJIT), the Bulls can disperse and return for Dec. 26 workouts. The Bulls open AAC play at Memphis on Dec. 29.
It will be a strange interlude for Bulls point guard Tyler Harris, the former Memphis Tiger and Memphis native. He will go home to family, then return to Tampa on Dec. 26. Two days later, he will board a charter flight with his teammates … back to Memphis.
"It's what you expect when you're a basketball player,'' Harris said. "Every other sport has a two-week break. My whole life at Christmas, I've been telling people, 'Yeah, I'd love to come by, but I've got a practice,' or 'I sorry I can't come and see you, but I've got a game.'
"That's just the life we live in basketball.''
USF women's basketball coach Jose Fernandez said his home has been decorated in colorful Christmas style for weeks, including a large outdoor tree in the front yard decked out in lights and ornaments. He has mostly been watching film and preparing for games.
"When you sign up for this, you know in advance that it won't be like other jobs, where you get multiple days off and you're completely unplugged and able to immerse yourself in the holiday spirit,'' Fernandez said. "Basketball coaches are like the Grinch, I guess.''
As a college player, USF men's basketball coach Brian Gregory said he remembers working out on Christmas Eve before he generally had to be back on campus late on Christmas night for a Dec. 26 practice. The hectic holiday schedule is nothing new. Gregory said he also believes today's players can adjust more seamlessly.
"Guys these days are used to traveling everywhere all year long,'' Gregory said. "They are used to being away from home during Thanksgiving and Christmas tournaments during their high-school seasons. You used to do those things in your town or nearby in your state. Nowadays, you could be playing anywhere.
"The bottom line is basketball is in season during Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Year's, maybe even spring break. That's just the rhythm of the sport. I think we're used to it. You have as much Christmas time as you possibly can, but obviously it's not as much as everybody else.''
The burden is extra difficult on USF's foreign players.
USF women's player Elena Tsineke, a native of Greece, used to love it when children came to her door, holding candles, singing Christmas songs. She used to love drinking hot chocolate and wearing Christmas pajamas.
This year, she will remain in Tampa. The silver lining: Her twin sister, Katerina, who plays at the University of Montana, will come to spend the holidays with her.
"So I will have some family with me,'' Tsineke said. "It's never the same as when you grew up. But I enjoy basketball and I love playing the games, so it's not like I'm sitting around doing nothing.''
Back in Cameroon, Bulls men's basketball center Russel Tchewa was accustomed to going to Midnight Mass with his family, then opening presents around the tree. He's hoping to celebrate Christmas this year with teammates or friends.
"We are college basketball players and we are used to following a schedule,'' Tchewa said with a laugh. "There are a lot of things you might do different if it is up to you, but this is the schedule we have right now. There are a few men's and women's players at USF that are adjusting to a different kind of holiday.''
Women's player Carla Brito, a native of Spain, grew up with Noche Buena (meaning "Good Night''), which is a Christmas Eve celebration of food, family and friends. In many Latin cultures, it's a bigger day than Christmas itself.
"Christmas to me is family,'' Brito said. "This year I will spend Christmas with my basketball family. And that will be good.''
For two players, there are conveniences.
Women's player Sammie Puisis, who grew up in Ohio, will return from San Diego in time to celebrate Christmas with her family, which now lives in Fort Myers.
"I'm grateful for getting to play in big-time tournaments around Christmas because not everybody gets to do that,'' Puisis said. "I'm also grateful I have time to be with my family at Christmas. I remember being at my former school (Florida State) and trying to get home for Christmas and missing my flight. I lost a lot of time. This year will be easier.
"It's still a little bit odd to have Christmas in the warm weather. It was always cold and sometimes snowing. But as long as you're with family, the weather doesn't really matter.''
Men's player Keyshawn Bryant, a native of Winter Haven, is playing his first USF season after transferring from South Carolina. Getting home this year is a lot more convenient.
"You always want to have a restful, fun Christmas with the family, but in basketball, you need to take care of your business first,'' Bryant said. "I think this will be one of my best Christmases.
"When you first get into college basketball, you almost feel like you're missing out at Christmas. But then you understand. We play games this time of year. The NBA plays all day on Christmas. I haven't missed too much with the family. But if I ever do, well, I can always get the leftovers.''
